"Come back inside the keep, m'lady," Aggie urged, still carrying the candle and observing Torr warily.
"I wish to stay with Sir Torr. I cannot sleep now anyway."
"But what if the witch should return, lass?" Finnian asked.
"Torr will protect me. Aye?" she asked him.
He nodded.
Aggie's eyes widened, as if she had a difficult time believing a kelpie could understand human language and communicate.
"All of you, go in and sleep," Cat said.
"Humph. 'Tis almost time to arise anyway. I'll start the morning meal." Maude trotted up the steps. Aggie followed at a slower pace, glancing back once.
"You may need more sleep, Finnian," Cat suggested.
"Nonsense. Are you calling me old?"
"Of course not." He was the youngest acting elder she had ever encountered.
"I'll nay sleep sound again until that hag loses her powers of darkness," Finnian said.
"That could be a long while."
He nodded in agreement.
Just over an hour later, at daybreak, Torr shifted inside the stables. As soon as he dressed and exited, Cat clasped him in a fierce embrace. She was glad she'd waited here, for she wanted to see him in his human form first thing in the morn.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Aye." He tightened his arms around her as if he wished to absorb her into himself.
Experiencing the sensation of melting into him, she sighed in bliss.
"Are you well?" He pulled back to look into her eyes with concern.
"Indeed. Does your hip pain you where you were shot?"
"Nay, 'twas but a graze." He glanced toward the stairway to the cellar and frowned.
"Thank the saints. What happened out here?" she asked.
"I was by the loch when I smelled the witch and heard their horses trotting toward the castle. Alpin must have heard me coming at a gallop and readied his pistol. He fired before I noticed him. His horse spooked, leapt over the rubble, and threw him off. He hit his head on the rock. I'll send a missive to Gavin, letting him know of his cousin's demise."
Cat nodded.
"Alpin's mother is still living. She'll want a proper burial for him. Gavin will, too, even though Alpin tried to kill him."
"He's an honorable chief," she said.
"Indeed. I'll also let him know Wilona MacRae is still free and out for blood."
***
IN OWL FORM, WILONAobserved the scene at Blacktower from the top of the tree, hidden by the leaves. She knew for certain Alpin was dead when the old man, the lad, and the maid wrapped him in his plaid death shroud and carried him away.
Her only companion gone forever. What was she to do now?
